Red Dragon shooters compete in Finnish Sniper Championship - Aug. 25-27, 2023

Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in HÄYHÄ 2023, a Finnish Sniper Championship, held Aug. 25-27, 2023, near Taipalsaari, Finland. Staff Sgt. Matthew Dawson, Staff Sgt. Joshua Johnson and Sgt. Gavin Asbury made up one of 26 teams to compete in the competition, which focused on the basic skills of a sniper. The event was organized by the Finnish Sniper Guild in cooperation with the Finnish Reserve Sports Association and the National Defense Training Association. It required shooters to complete a variety of marksmanship challenges with different weapons systems and tested competitors on fieldcraft, physical fitness, reconnaissance, call for fire and tactical combat casualty care. The VNG enjoys an enduring relationship with Finland that includes military training exchanges between Finnish forces and VNG Soldiers and Airmen, aligning unit training plans with exercise schedules in Europe and using Finnish expertise to build VNG winter operations capabilities. Learn more at ngpa.us/26736